Chicken importers trot out many false arguments in their opposition to higher tariffs on chicken imports. Paul Matthew stands the truth on its head (“Higher chicken prices and jobs bloodbath will follow trade protection (https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/land-and-agriculture/2020-02-12-higher-chicken-prices-and-jobs-bloodbath-will-follow-trade-protection-says-association/)”, February 13).

On behalf of the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE), he dishes up the falsity that imports are necessary because SA chicken producers cannot meet local demand. The truth is that the local industry has been crippled by ever-increasing volumes of dumped and predatory imports, which have grabbed 20%-30% of the local market, killed jobs and stopped investment, expansion and job creation...